October 14, 2008
6:30-7:30 PM
Book talk and signing
Stoughton Public Library

October 15, 2008
6:30-8:00 PM
Library: Alicia Ashman Branch
Description:Author Kashmira Sheth presents an affectionate, sensitive story which provides a look into Indian life and the shared moments and memories that bind generations together. Learn to make the three different kinds of paper boats that are in her beautiful new picture book, Monsoon Afternoon.

I have posted the content from Blue Jasmine discussion guide below. The guide was prepared by Tracie Zimmer.

For Discussion:

Discuss Seema’s friendship with Mukta. How does it change throughout the novel? How do they change each other’s lives? Who changes more?

Raju and Seema’s relationship is both close and conflicted. Discuss what issues divide them and what maintains their alliance. With whom did you usually side in their disagreements? Why?

Predict where Seema, Raju, Carrie, and Mukta will be in five years. Whose life will be the most changed? Why do you think so?

What events cause Seema and her family the most difficulty in living so far from family? What makes these events easier to bear? What would you miss most if you lived in a foreign country?

Seema describes her transition to America to the game of Chutes and Ladders. Discuss what events were “up” for Seema and what events “slid” her backward. Which ones would be the most difficult for you? Why?

Discuss Seema’s presentation on Kasturba Gandhi. Do you think it was a turning point for Seema? Why? What did she gain from the experience? What did her classmates learn about Seema and her culture?

Raju says to Seema (p. 154) “You said you like that blue flower that blooms only once a year. What about the plumeria, parijat and jasmine that have bloomed for you for the past twelve years? How can you forget them?” Is Raju only talking about the flowers? How do other flowers mentioned in the book also represent more than what they are? (e.g. Raju’s gift of the angel wing jasmine, the dandelions, neem tree)

Compare and contrast the traditions and festivals that the Trevedi’s are missing in India to the new ones they are experiencing in America. How are the celebrations similar in the two countries? How are they different?

Discuss Seema’s conflict with Carrie. What does Seema learn about herself and her view of her old friend Mutka? Do you think it is possible that Carrie and Seema could actually become friends? Can people really change?

Mrs. Trevedi and Seema both feel quite isolated after first moving to America. How do things begin to change for them? What do you think is the most important when trying to fit into a new community?

Projects:

Art:

Make at least ten prints or rubbings of a variety of flora and fauna in your neighborhood. Use plant guides or the internet to identify their species. Put your work in a folder with three punch holes and add to your collection as the seasons change.

Language:

Make a list of at least twenty slang words (all appropriate to school!) or idioms that a person learning English as a second language might have difficulty understanding like Seema did with “you left the barn door wide open on that one!”

History:

Research the satyagraha or passive resistance movement that the Gandhiji’s promoted during their lifetime. Make a timeline of their lives and work and important milestones in their personal and public lives.

A couple of weeks ago I did a Reading Day at the Executive Mansion in Madison, Wisconsin. The Reading Day is a part of the Read On Wisconsin, is a statewide book club for students and book-lovers across the state. Every month, the first lady, Jessica Doyle, recommends books for different age groups. She travels across the state to promote readings and literacy. She also invites school to come to the residence. Boys Without Names was chosen for middle school readers for October and I was fortunate to meet students from three different schools: Maple Dale Indian Hill School District (Milwaukee), Robinson Elementary School (Beloit) and Richmond School (Sussex). It is such and honor to have all my books chosen as Read On Wisconsin book and great privilege to work with the Jessica Doyle and the program coordinator Ashley Huibregtse.

Fall is here, and that means long walks before settling down for the winter. I love to take my daughter's and son-in-law's two dogs, Molly and Snickers, along with me. Snickers is a good walker until she sees other dogs. Then she starts barking. It doesn't occur to her that the dog is four times as big as she is.Molly, on the other hand, is a poky little walker. She sniffs and saunters along. When she sees a big dog, she keeps her head down and minds her own business. When she sees kids and people, she wants to play, while Snickers barks. They both leap when they see a squirrel or a rabbit. Here is a picture of Molly (the black one) and Snickers (the brown one).

Boys Without Names was an October pick for Read On Wisconsin. Read on Wisconsin is a statewide book club for students and book-lovers across the state. What is truly amazing is that this year's top picks are recommended by students and educators across Wisconsin. I'm thrilled to have my book on the list along with Boo to You by Lois Elhert and Stiches by David Small. For the complete listing of this month please go to http://readon.wi.gov/

September picks were One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and The Wednesday Wars by Gary. D. Schmidt. Please check out more on Wisconsin's First Lady Jessica Doyle's Read On Wisconsin website mentioned above.

Since BOYS WITHOUT NAMES came out I have been working on other
projects. Usually, when the book is out I promote it but I don't
continue my research on that subject. This book is different and the
child labor is so widespread and the issue of poverty, homelessness,
abuse, and starvation are so huge that I keep coming across articles
and stories about them. They take me back to BOYS WITHOUT NAMES. I
can't leave Gopal and all the children that are like him.
I read this article last week in India Tribune on Child labor. It says
60 million children in India are working as child laborers! http://www.indiatribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2884:over-60-million-child-laborers-in-india&catid=125:general-news&Itemid=400
There is so much to do. I hope the awareness that this exists is the first step in trying to do something about it.

Last Saturday, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Writers
and Illustrators (SCBWI) held it’s annual Spring Luncheon. The location
was the beautiful Oconomowoc Lake Club. The day was a pure spring day in
Wisconsin—beautiful blue sky, warm sun, daffodils in bloom, budding
trees, and weeping willow branches arching over the water.

And then the day got even better. The speaker was Molly O’Neill,
assistant editor at Katherine Tagen Books (HarperCollins). She talked
about what an editor looks in a manuscript. She discussed the elusive
“voice” and gave concrete examples from various books. Her talk was
insightful and informative and the handouts she had passed out helped
greatly. With the points in hand, it was easy to concentrate on her
talk.

Writing is a lonely business so an event like this fuels excitement and
enthusiasm. Being part of SCBWI community has been great—from attending
national conferences and regional retreats to being in an excellent
critique group. I feel fortunate to be part of it.

No event can go on without hard work. A big special thanks to the
Luncheon organizer Thelma Godin and Emily Kort. They did a fabulous
job!

Booklist: "As Gopal dreams of escape, he builds tenuous friendships with his fellow workers. Those wary bonds form a dramatic counterpoint to the children’s daily misery, described in moving, palpable detail, and skillfully steer the story away from docu-novel territory to its hopeful conclusion. Pair this eye-opening title with Susan Kuklin’s Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders against Child Slavery (1998)". — Gillian Engberg

From January issue of BookPage: “Adroitly contrasting the rich sensory detail of Gopal’s village life and the sensory deprivation of his factory life, Sheth has created a story worthy of her storytelling protagonist.” http://www.bookpage.com/books.php?id=10012757

From Richiespicks: “This story about story has me recalling why it is that I so dearly love sharing books, why I so often seek out and always enjoy hearing other people's stories, and why I get such a kick out of telling my own.” http://richiespicks.pbworks.com/BOYS-WITHOUT-NAMES

From Lindsey’s library: “I feel as if I am also one of those boys without names, working in the sweatshop, and through their experience of creating family and bonds, and reminded fondly of my own childhood...It was everything I was hoping for and more, and I recommend that everyone read it.“ http://www.lindseyslibrary.com/2010/01/boys-without-names/#more-1431